diff --git a/.changeset/wild-bags-cheat.md b/.changeset/wild-bags-cheat.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..fbe87d045e47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/wild-bags-cheat.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'create-svelte': patch
+---
+
+Warn user when they accidentally try to publish the `./` directory
diff --git a/packages/create-svelte/templates/skeletonlib/package.template.json b/packages/create-svelte/templates/skeletonlib/package.template.json
index 6b90688f1171..78e1bbf168cb 100644
--- a/packages/create-svelte/templates/skeletonlib/package.template.json
+++ b/packages/create-svelte/templates/skeletonlib/package.template.json
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 	"version": "0.0.1",
 	"scripts": {
 		"dev": "vite dev",
-		"build": "svelte-kit sync && svelte-package"
+		"build": "svelte-kit sync && svelte-package",
+		"prepublishOnly": "echo 'Did you mean to publish `./package/`, instead of `./`?' && exit 1"
 	},
 	"devDependencies": {
 		"@sveltejs/adapter-auto": "workspace:*",